Ableton Forum

I'm sure there are threads on this, but since practically everyone who uses these synths lists them in their signatures, it makes the search function kind of worthless...

I am looking for the ultimate softsynth. I want to pick one that sounds amazing and devote serious time to learning as much as I can about it. I'd rather stay away from Native Instruments.

Zebra seems to have quite a loyal following here and I did try the demo last night - it's the one I'm really leaning towards at this point.

Am I headed in the right direction?

Thanks in advance!

A jack of all trades is a master of none...

3 synths have really caught my attention of late:

1. minimonsta
2. surge
3. sylenth

and there's another that I have been in love with for a few years now,

4. albino

sqook wrote:A jack of all trades is a master of none...

Yeah, but I still think I'd be better off trying to learn one at a time...

hmmm....I dont think one vsti is the solution.
if I were you I'd get ...

impOSCar
Surge

that works out to about the same price as zebra I think, and both a relatively simple to operate and probably quickish to learn

I tried alot of vsti demos recently, and those two stand out for me if I were to pick just two. But I would also have to recommend one more piece of software...add to those two softsynths a modular package like plogue bidule// max/msp // reaktor and you could pretty much get away with never buying another softsynth and continually make new sounds. the best bargain and probably most suited to you might be Reaktor even tho you're against NI....the truth is if you shop around you can get reaktor for peanuts [used license, or academic licenses from ebay even if you're not an academic], and it comes with a huge user library and the instruments of previous reaktor versions.....huge bang for buck on this one, even if you never program with it. plogue bidule is also a very affordable right now, and sounds mental.

aburgener wrote:

sqook wrote:A jack of all trades is a master of none...

Yeah, but I still think I'd be better off trying to learn one at a time...

Fair enough. My point is only that you shouldn't expect one synth to cover everything you need.

By the time you really "learn" one synth backwards and forwards, I think you'll find that it's not hard to learn how to program others.

I'ma Zebra2 fanboy, so you know where my vote goes

As always, it depends on what sound you're after and how you work. Demoing a few is probably the only sensible way to pick the right synth for you.

Zebra is an excellent choice for an all-rounder. If the workflow suits and you dig the sound, I say go for it.

Surge is another very flexible setup that can take on a number of styles.

AAS Ultra Analog is a great sounding, straight forward synth. The AAS Modelling Collection is a great all-round setup imo.

Minimonsta is a terrific warm sounding synth that goes well beyond straight Moog emulation if you want it to.

FabFilter Twin sounds lovely and also has plenty of depth to program with. The lack of on-board fx may be seen as a weakness, or as a testament to just how darn good it sounds, depending on your pov.

Good luck!

sqook wrote:

aburgener wrote:

sqook wrote:A jack of all trades is a master of none...

Yeah, but I still think I'd be better off trying to learn one at a time...

Fair enough. My point is only that you shouldn't expect one synth to cover everything you need.

By the time you really "learn" one synth backwards and forwards, I think you'll find that it's not hard to learn how to program others.

I hear you there - good points.

I've never checked out Surge... maybe I should.

Albino is my swiss army knife.

Sylenth1 and Sytrus will do pretty much everything you can think of. Additive, FM, Subtractive. With style.

Man, I'm definitely less sure of what to pick now...

I guess I'll keep trying demos. Do any of the synths that have been mentioned have an easier than normal learning curve?

I suppose that's kind of subjective though...

Thanks for the feedback!

Sylenth1 is the easiest of the bunch - feels like an old Roland Juno...sounds amazing and easy to program.

Jesus, Computer Music really shot their wad when they tested it out, huh?

Yeah I'm gonna have to check that one out now...

it was a wad worth shooting...it's insanely good...check out http://www.lennardigital.com/modules/sy ... listen.php

My remix of Techno Squirrel's "Unbelievable" was basically Thomas Penton Drum samples, original vocal samples, and 8 instances of Synlenth1. Phat little phucker, that synth is!